The Hunt Ball Mystery

he and Gifford walked towards the town together. Henshaw had left Wynford Place ha

Gifford answ

offensive as his brother was, I should say, although in a different line. I did not dete

on. He behaved extremely well, considering the irri

nshaw; unpleasa

his legal training he is by way

e scandal will be quite enough without that. Horribly rough luck on the Morristons as new-comers her

th a purpose, t

credulity as to the suicide theory, though hardly with his manner of sho

se, and for a while th

ow did you get on to-d

dwo

change of subject. "The old boy gave me his consent and his blessing. I've scarcely

lly. "It is calculated to drive e

e going abroad next month and don't propose to hurry back. So it means that if the weddi

he latter would b

xclaimed in a rather hurt tone. "Why on earth should we? We ha

ents take a long

rs are told to hu

se, and get furniture. And there

ails can be got over in two or three weeks if we set ourselves

matters," Gifford rejoined

, "what is the matter with you? You are most confoundedly unsympat

to be in too great a hurry

why?

it is a

not going to suggest we d

l the family returns? Of cour

t be expected to enter into my feelings on the subject. But I

ied warmly. "It is only in your own interes

name, do you mean?" Kelson d

things, that is all," was

esitate to take your advice," Kelson said. "But I don'

laugh. "It is com

oil all the enjoyment in your life, and in other people's too, if you force the n

rd responded, and

was the main topic of their conversation, when the landlord came in to say that Mr. Gerva

ss at his friend.

hear what he has to say. We don

said to the landlord, and i

ment Henshaw took the seat

by the terrible fate which has overtaken my poor brother. I am setting myself to search for a clue, if ever so slight, to the mystery, the double mystery, I m

we can tell you," Gifford repli

g back to his dry, lawyer-like tone, "I have been to see the medical man who was summoned to look at the body, Dr. Page. He

of it?" Ke

that it was a very awkward and altogether unlikely place for a man to wound himself. Anyhow

are faced by the diffic

a gesture of

esearches, which have included criminality, have come across incidents which to the smartest detective brains were at the outset quite as baffling. Clement's tragic end is a great blo

justified," K

e result," was th

hink was the real object in y

d. "It is my opinion, my conviction, there was a lady in

in my own mind," he replied, with a reserve w

nly, "you have also an

ead. "Not at all,"

suggested itself to you," cam

member of the Hunt, and

t the truth about his death. He had, I fear, rather irregular methods in his treatment of women. One can hardly blame him, poor fellow. His was a fascinating personality, at any rate so far as women were concerned. They ran after him, and

ford put the question q

t had been. In that case we shoul

th astounded eyes. "Do you suppose a woma

"But no, I don't suggest that-yet. At present I have got no farther than the conviction th

, with his eye furtively on Kelson,

be done. The woman who, intentionally or otherwise, drew my

taring almost st

saw my brother dancing?"

not arrive till about midnight. Did you see him, Harry?" he asked, as tho

pull himself toge

impse of him, I think,

she was?" He

Kelson answered mechanicall

He shook hands, with a word of thanks and an apology. "We may know more after the inquest to-morrow afterno

scared face. "Hugh!" he cried hoarsely, in a voice subdued by fear. "

ar Harry, how absurd! What cou

able laugh. "It is a gri